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COVID-19 Update on Mariner Credentials

COVID-19 – Mariner Credentials Extension of Merchant Mariner Credential Endorsements, Medical Certificates and Course Approvals

This MSIB updates guidance concerning mariner credentials, medical certificates and course approvals, and the action being taken by the Coast Guard due to the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes (COVID-19). We are doing this in keeping with national guidance to meet the challenge of this disease and in response to a number of questions and concerns raised by the maritime industry and mariners.  The provisions in this MSIB are consistent with the Executive Order on Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery issued on May 19, 2020.

The Coast Guard has also been consulting with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other administrations to ensure alignment with respect to the extension of endorsements issued in accordance with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW). We are taking a pragmatic approach consistent with the IMO Secretary General’s circular Letter No.4204/Add.5 dated March 17, 2020.

To mitigate the impact to the seafarers and the industry caused by the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19, the Coast Guard is taking the following actions:  Regional Exam Centers and Monitoring Units. Regional Examination Centers and Monitoring Units will remain closed until further notice. Mariners with questions may contact the National Maritime Center (NMC) by calling the Customer Service Center at 1-888-IASKNMC, emailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or through the NMC online chat system.

 National Endorsements: Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC) and Medical Certificates (National Endorsements only) that expire between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020 are extended until December 31, 2020. Mariners who are actively working on expired credentials that meet the expiration criteria must carry the expired credential with a copy of this notice.  This measure relaxes the requirement to carry an unexpired medical certificate and not the actual medical standards.  It is important that mariners with disqualifying medical conditions do not sail.

 STCW Endorsements: MMCs with STCW endorsements that expire between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020 are extended until December 31, 2020. Mariners who are actively working on expired credentials that meet the expiration criteria must carry the expired credential with a copy of this notice.

 STCW Medical Certificates: STCW Medical Certificates that expire between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020 are extended until December 31, 2020. Mariners who are actively working on an expired medical certificate that meet the expiration criteria must carry the expired certificate with a copy of this notice.  This measure ONLY relaxes the requirement to carry an unexpired STCW medical certificate and not the actual medical standards.  It is important that mariners with disqualifying medical conditions do not sail.

 Additional administrative measures: The following items that expire in between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020 are extended until December 31, 2020: Additional Information letters, Qualified Assessor letters, Designated Examiner letters, Approval to Test letters, and mariner training course completion certificates.

 Pilot Annual Physical examinations. 46 USC 7101(e)(3) requires that pilots undergo an annual physical examination each year while holding a credential. The Coast Guard does not intend to enforce this requirement given the current national emergency and the lack of medical care. This measure ONLY relaxes the requirement for an annual physical and not the actual medical standards.  This posture applies until December 31, 2020 irrespective of when the medical certificate expires.  It is important that pilots with disqualifying medical conditions do not sail.

 Course and Program Approvals.   o Course and program approvals that expire between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 are extended for six months from their current expiration date.  This MISB serves as formal notification of the extension.  The NMC will not issue new course approval letters or certificates.  NMC will update internal records to ensure the acceptance of course completion certificates issued during the extension and that the website reflects appropriate information. o The NMC will continue to work with training providers on a case-by-case basis to implement alternate training delivery methods, including distance learning or blended learning.  Approved requests and new requests for alternate training delivery methods will be valid until December 31, 2020 for the knowledge-based online course material.  All testing, practical assessments, and labs associated with these courses must be completed no later than 6 months from the completion of the knowledge-based portion of the training.  This MSIB serves as the extension for previously approved courses using alternate delivery methods.

Please be aware that these measures may cause a backlog in the processing of credentials and course approvals, especially near the end of the extension dates.  Mariners are strongly encouraged to fulfill the requirements and submit their application as early as possible in order to avoid a lapse in their credential.  Similarly, training providers need to make every effort to submit their application early to avoid expiration of their current approval.

The NMC may issue additional guidance on these extensions and other administrative measures consistent with this MSIB.  This guidance will be posted at https://www.uscg.mil/nmc//.  If you have questions, visit the NMC website, or contact the NMC Customer Service Center by using the NMC online chat system, by emailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

Processing of Mariner Appeals During COVID -19 Pandemic

The Director, Commercial Regulations and Standards (CG-5PS), in conjunction with the Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing (CG-MMC-2), continues to receive and process mariner appeals that are submitted in accordance with Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1.03-40. However, due to ongoing COVID-19 safety and health concerns and technical constraints that operating in the COVID-19 environment present, the processing of appeals have been delayed.

Appeals are being processed in the order that complete appeal submissions are received. Incomplete appeals will be held in abeyance until the mariner finishes supplying information for an appeal. All appeals will be thoroughly reviewed and evaluated based upon the information submitted, the information in the application and reconsideration files and any additional information necessary to complete the appeal. We will pursue this evaluation as quickly as possible while conducting the complete evaluation. Mariners are encouraged to submit appeals documents via e-mail to MMCPolicy@uscg.mil ; documents should be in a readable format (avoid .gif, .zip, or camera images). Mailed or faxed appeals may be subject to further delays due to reduced manning within CG-MMC-2 office spaces.

Lastly, but most importantly, the Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing wants to assure our industry customers and stakeholders that their appeals are a high priority. We apologize for any potential inconvenience that a delay in processing an appeal may cause.
Mariners and other interested parties should contact the Mariner Credentialing Program at (202) 372-2357 or MMCPolicy@uscg.mil with any questions or concerns.

National Maritime Day

Please join us for this year’s virtual celebration of National Maritime Day!

This year’s theme – “Resilient Sealift for a Resilient Nation”— reflects the U.S. maritime industry’s unwavering support of the nation, especially during the current challenge of COVID-19. While we may not be able to join in person, we can honor our nation’s maritime heritage, weather this current storm together, and commit ourselves to an even stronger future for America’s maritime industry.

The ceremony can be viewed live at: https://www.youtube.com/c/MaritimeAdministration1950

Coast Guard offers new i911 system for PNW mariners

SEATTLE – The 13th Coast Guard District has implemented a groundbreaking technology to assist mariners in distress on the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

Across Washington and Oregon, mariners can provide vital location information to Coast Guard rescue crews from their smartphones without having to download an application. In addition to common life-saving devices known to mariners, such as Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB’s) and VHF radios, the Coast Guard now has the i911 application as an additional tool to provide lifesaving information from a mariner’s cell phone.

The i911 system is a free service developed by Callyo Incorporated. It provides fast and accurate location data to the Coast Guard in a simple web-based interface. If a mariner has recently or is actively connected to a cell-tower, the user’s smartphone could provide Global Positioning System information, potentially up to 20-nautical miles offshore. The Coast Guard has the ability to send a text message to the mariner’s cell phone requesting permission to access the GPS location information; all the mariner needs to do is enable location information in their smartphone settings and click the link provided in the text message.

The Coast Guard can then utilize the provided positions to direct search assets to the mariner’s location.

The 13th District continues to adapt with modern times to assist mariners in distress. In an age where smartphones are an essential part of everyday life, the i911 system is another tool that can be used by Coast Guard search and rescue teams to provide rapid assistance in the maritime domain. While this new technology is highly effective, mariners are advised that i911 should not replace standard VHF radios. VHF channel-16 remains the most reliable means of communication for mariners in distress.

“While VHF radio remains the most reliable form of distress communication, this tool gives the Coast Guard another avenue to rapidly locate mariners in distress utilizing smart phone technology,” said Lt. Cmdr. Colin Boyle, the 13th District’s command center chief. “In addition, the location sharing feature is only utilized during an active search and rescue case and can be turned off by the mariner at any time.”

This tool is readily available to first responder agencies across the country, including the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard ran a pilot program from May – November 2019, in which the new application was instrumental to resolving several search and rescue cases in the New England region. It has been authorized for Coast Guard command centers across the entire country as of March 20, 2020.
For any questions regarding i911 please visit their website at http://i911.zendesk.com/

For any questions regarding i911 please visit their website at http://i911.zendesk.com/

New Electronic Mail (E-mail) Renewal Examinations

On May 1, 2020, the National Maritime Center (NMC) will launch a centralized electronic delivery process (via e-mail) for renewal examinations. This change provides mariners the ability to request, complete, and submit renewal examinations by e-mail and will help to maintain the flow of mariner credentials during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paper mailings will still be available upon request.

Approval to test (ATT) letters for renewal examinations issued on or after May 1, 2020, will include directions on how to obtain an electronic examination, and the process will be outlined on the NMC Examinations Page website. Mariners who received an ATT letter and have not received their examination may follow the new e-mail process. Mariners who already received a hard-copy renewal examination should complete it as directed in the previously mailed correspondence.

Centralized electronic delivery process for renewal examinations:

  1. ATT letter issued and mailed to the mariner by the NMC.
  2. After receipt of the ATT letter, the mariner requests the exam at NMCRenewalExams@uscg.mil or by contacting the NMC Customer Contact Center. If the examination fee is not paid, a copy of the Pay.Gov fee payment receipt must be provided with the request.
  3. The NMC will e-mail the mariner a PDF copy of the examination module(s), a fillable answer sheet for each module, and directions for completing the process.
  4. The mariner completes the answer sheet for each module and returns via e-mail in accordance with the directions. Mariners have the option to print and mail the answer sheets in accordance with the directions.
  5. The NMC will receive the answer sheets, grade them, and notify the mariner of the results, including any retests or re-examinations required.
  6. Mariners may be approved for both an original and renewal examination on one application. They may use the new e-mail process for the renewal examination only and must schedule exams for the original at a Regional Examination Center using existing processes.

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback regarding this new process, contact the NMC Customer Service Center by e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

Small Vessel Refrigeration Course

San Diego, October 29, 2019 – – Training Resources Maritime Institute (TRLMI) has announced the introduction of their Small Vessel Refrigeration course, which supports the fishing industry. The course was developed to educate students on how to maintain, troubleshoot, and repair typical marine refrigeration systems.

According to Dave Abrams, CEO of TRLMI, “Not all training needs to result in a Coast Guard Certification.  Sometimes we just need to pass on knowledge where there is a gap.  We recognized that we could help fill a training gap for operators of fishing vessels that rely on their refrigeration systems to keep their hard work from going to waste.  By giving them the knowledge of how to repair their own refrigeration systems, we hope to give vessel operators the ability to prevent their systems from failing, and to get out of a bind when they experience system problems without having to sacrifice their catch.”

Ceasar Salas, Engineering Department Head of TRLMI, adds, “When crew members are calling a repair technician from sea, the lack of understanding of how the refrigeration system works can be a real problem.  Having the knowledge onboard saves time and money, and can keep people from getting hurt.”

TRLMI’s new three-day refrigeration course created for fisherman at sea covers the basic principles and theory of refrigeration for various sized systems.  TRLMI experienced instructors walk the students through various refrigeration systems, step by step, giving operators and crew the ability to undertake routine maintenance, troubleshoot and fix problems.  Students will get the opportunity to work on real equipment and use our refrigeration simulator.  The course is offered in the evening to support the schedules of local day fisherman around San Diego, and in a three-day format to support mariners that may be traveling to attend the courses.

For more information about this or the more than 80 courses offered by TRLMI, visit the web site at TRLMI or call to register your interest for 2020 classes at: (619) 263-1638.

Small Vessel Refrigeration Course - Training Resources Maritime Institute

World Maritime Conference

This October one of our employees – Alexander Hickethier, was lucky enough to participate in the World Maritime Conference in Shanghai, China! The conference is an international event focusing on the current topics and major advances in the Maritime field. The theme for this year was new era, new technology, new maritime.

Pacific Marine Expo

Come check out Training Resources Maritime Institute for the first time at the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle, WA! We will be there from November 21 – 23, 2019 discussing Safety, Survival, Training & Education at booth 103 so feel free to stop by and learn more about how you can get involved! Click on the link below for more info.

Why Exhibit